Energy Saving Advice :: Wessex Scene Online

Energy Saving Advice

You don't need to setup your own windfarm to save energy

18th October 2008
Lydia Teague

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Simple tips for hard-up students on how to clip the wings of high soaring energy bills!

We are all aware of the rising energy charges, and after the sheltered comfort of University halls, cooking, cleaning and generally being seems to send the meter ticking up madly. Whilst it is amazing how quickly the charges can mount up, it is also however, surprisingly simple to keep them low. It takes a little effort but will lower your bills and also make your house a little more eco-friendly!

Electricity
Don’t – overuse the tumble-dryer, they use a ridiculous amount of energy. Clothes are lovely warm out of the machine but try to use the radiators or washing-line as much as possible. The weather doesn’t help, but even if it is freezing, as long as there is wind clothes will dry!

Do - watch television together! Don’t sit in different rooms, watching the same thing. Also much more sociable!

Do – turn lights, TVs, stereos, laptops off at the plug. This may be impractical through the day but at least attempt to turn everything off at night. However, don’t worry about turning lights off every time you leave a room for two seconds, as it uses more energy for the bulb to relight that it would if it was just left on.

Gas
Don’t – use it for everything. Microwave food, the electricity will be cheaper. Boil water in a kettle before cooking with it. You can always use the oven or grill for a couple of seconds after the microwave if you hate the soggy texture of food heated up in one.

Do – wear jumpers inside and have the heating on less. If your house is well-insulated, keep the heating on a low setting 24 hours a day as the surge needed to heat the radiators from freezing is expensive. A low but continuous setting will keep you just as warm.

Do – turn the gas down and put lids on saucepans. The temperature will be just as high whilst using less energy.

Water
Don’t –overuse the washing machine. If there’s only a few bits that need doing, either hand wash or find housemates who have washing to do at the same time. Use the quick cycle whenever possible.

Do- have dripping taps/showers fixed. The wasted water will add up.

Do – turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, the shower off when shaving your legs etc.

It is hard to do all this all the time, but it does help and also helps you do your bit to help save energy. Don’t forget to check your bills and meters and ring up if the estimate is too high, this will spread out your payments more evenly. Also it can be worth shopping around for a different supplier. Here’s to lower bills!